Emancipation did represent a compromise, though one made among the
Republicans and War Democrats who supported Lincoln.
Lincoln's great achievement was that he made a series of choices that
positioned himself and the Union cause where what was unthinkable in 1861
beyond abolitionist circles became the obvious best logical option in 1863.
Obama is not even a Martin Van Buren.
Maybe more like a Gerald Ford with a better sense of balance.
ML